Step 9: Installation of the canopy

Step 10: Installation of the curtains

You can be done now, or if you chose to make the optional cloud curtains, you can now install those.Thread the twill tape over the black pipe through ...

One of my children has a fun bed with a starry canopy, that we got from Ikea. The other child kept trying to improvise a similar arrangement, but no such thing existed for his little converted-crib toddler bed. Being a creative parent, I thought it might be fun to make my own.

Requirements: It needed to be sturdy, flexible, removable, washable, and inexpensive. Also, he wanted curtains.

This is all of those, plus the requested curtains.

It has become a stage, a secret hiding place, a teaching tool (colors!), a toy in and of itself. Oh, and it's also a bed.

I think it might easily be modified into a playstand canopy above a couple of shelves, but I think some further engineering is required.

NOTICE: Do not use this for a crib-bed that is still in use as a crib. This design is much too low to be safe as an infant crib canopy. Also, if you want to make this for a non-crib toddler bed, you will have to create your own pattern and customize your frame.

Step 1: Ingredients

Tools:

You need a sewing machine or handsewing needles and lots of time to sturdily hand sew all seams. I also used my serger to finish all raw edges on the canopy, but it's not a requirement.A measuring tool of some kind - I used a yardstick and eyeballed anything that didn't need to be precise.Scissors

Materials:

Canopy cover:

1 yard each of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet cotton for a rainbow, or an equivalent amount of fabric for other patterns or a solid cover. Thread - I used black and white on the canopy. It looks fine.3 yards of twill tape or other sturdy, non-slippery flat narrow fabric (such as grosgrain ribbon or shoelace) for ties3 yards of 1/2" elastic

Hey, for the folks who have asked how to do something similar for a non-crib type bed! I found a link on pinterest to this blog which tells exactly how to do that, same basic concept and materials: http://gluesticksblog.com/2011/07/pvc-framed-canopy-bed.html

This is the coolest thing I've ever seen for a bed. My daughter is 3 and we're having a hard time trying to keep her in her bed and staying in her room at night. I could never make anything close to this beautiful creation.... would you make me one if I paid you??

I really want to make one of these for my daughter who will be three in 2 weeks but I'm really confused about how you attach it to the frame & couldn't I just double stitch cause I don't have a serger (don't know what it is). I don't under stand raw edges. Couldn't I just hem all edges before I start then him them again for a clean edge? Also I'm not sure what a top stitch is. I'm good at sewing on a machine but don't know any terms. I'm pretty sure the casings are what hold it to the frame but that whole step confuses me. If you could point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it. It's amazing that you made this one. I'm only going to be using 2 colors on hers as well if that helps.

The serger isn't strictly necessary, and is described so in the tools and materials list. Step three gives instructions for BOTH serged/sewn and flat felled seaming. If you do not have a serger, flat fell all the seams for strength. The orange link in step 3 leads to another instructable that goes into how to flat-fell a seam in detail.

Step 4: Look at the illustrations. This isn't a precise pattern because there are so many different styles and dimensions of top railings on cribs/beds/etc. All I can do is give you a general idea of how to make your own, and give diagrams to guide you.

If step 4 confuses you, look at step 5, last illustration, with the finished canopy laid out flat, and step 8, where it shows the frame inserted into the canopy.

Step 9 covers attaching it to the crib or bedframe. I suggest zip (cable) ties because they are sturdy, and can be temporary and non-damaging while offering a relatively childproof solution for attaching the canopy to the bed.

I didn't know you could click on the little diagrams. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. her bed is set up just like yours in the picture. I'm so excited to start this. What kind of fabric did you use? I just went to Wal-Mart and got cotton for 1.97 a yard. I'll post pics too, I'm thinking of putting lace on the front too :)

Thank you. I'm just floored that it's been blogged at Craft and been featured here! I've thought about making one for an adult bed, too. Might be better to use tent poles instead of pipe for that, though, since it's not so likely to be climbed on. :)

About This Instructable

Bio:Artist, craftswoman, reenactor, costumer, mom, geek, nerd, gamer, designer. Love building props and costumes and lots of other things for fun, have gotten to do it for money in the past. Grew up resto...read more »